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Speech by Rev Harry Herbert on Palm Sunday 2006May we be far removed from the false authority claimed by the would-be rulers of our world. In Jesus we see one who commanded with service and humility, who exalted the meek and the peacemakers, who challenged the forces of evil with goodness, and righteousness, and justice, and peace.
The humble king Jesus puts to shame the brutal dictators like Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein, and the manipulative politicians like George Bush and Tony Blair and John Howard. They are all exposed by the light shines from the true king who rode into Jerusalem to point to a new kingdom and a new order. For those of us who follow Jesus, there can never be confusion between his kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. But our allegiance to his kingdom gives us a mission to be witnesses to peace in our world, to be peacemakers. How can humankind survive if we do not find peace? How can we allow violence and war and terror ever to have the last word? No, to be witnesses to Jesus, we must promote peace, we must reject violence as a way of solving problems. We must expose the lies and the falsehoods which are the food on which war and violence thrive. I pray that this Palm Sunday will stir up in all of us a greater passion for peace, that we will reject the use of violence for short term political expediency, that we will challenge all who will not follow with us the costly road to peace. May the picture of Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem stay with us as a sign of a better way, a new kingdom, a transforming love. May the Jesus of peace and justice claim our hearts and minds, and may his kingdom become the kingdom of this world. Amen. Rev Harry Herbert is a leader of the Uniting Church in Australia. |
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© Walk Against the War Coalition 2003. |
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